Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Comparing the content and quality of video, telephone, and face-to-face consultations : a non-randomised, quasi-experimental, exploratory study in UK primary care

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Hammersley, Victoria, Donaghy, Eddie, Parker, Richard, McNeilly, Hannah, Atherton, Helen, Bikker, Annemieke, Campbell, John and McKinstry, Brian (2019) Comparing the content and quality of video, telephone, and face-to-face consultations : a non-randomised, quasi-experimental, exploratory study in UK primary care. British Journal of General Practice, 69 (686). e595-e604. doi:10.3399/bjgp19X704573 ISSN 0960-1643.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP-comparing-content-quality-video-telephone-face-to-face-consultations-non-randomised-quasi-experimental-exploratory-study-UK-primary care-Atherton-2019.pdf - Published Version - Requires a PDF viewer.
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (429Kb) | Preview
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3399/bjgp19X704573

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

Background: Growing demands on primary care services have led to policymakers promoting video consultations (VCs) to replace routine face-to-face consultations (FTFCs) in general practice.

Aim: To explore the content, quality, and patient experience of VC, telephone (TC), and FTFCs in general practice.

Design and setting: Comparison of audio-recordings of follow-up consultations in UK primary care.

Method: Primary care clinicians were provided with video-consulting equipment. Participating patients required a smartphone, tablet, or computer with camera. Clinicians invited patients requiring a follow-up consultation to choose a VC, TC, or FTFC. Consultations were audio-recorded and analysed for content and quality. Participant experience was explored in post-consultation questionnaires. Case notes were reviewed for NHS resource use.

Results: Of the recordings, 149/163 were suitable for analysis. VC recruits were younger, and more experienced in communicating online. FTFCs were longer than VCs (mean difference +3.7 minutes, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1 to 5.2) or TCs (+4.1 minutes, 95% CI = 2.6 to 5.5). On average, patients raised fewer problems in VCs (mean 1.5, standard deviation [SD] 0.8) compared with FTFCs (mean 2.1, SD 1.1) and demonstrated fewer instances of information giving by clinicians and patients. FTFCs scored higher than VCs and TCs on consultation-quality items.

Conclusion: VC may be suitable for simple problems not requiring physical examination. VC, in terms of consultation length, content, and quality, appeared similar to TC. Both approaches appeared less ‘information rich’ than FTFC. Technical problems were common and, though patients really liked VC, infrastructure issues would need to be addressed before the technology and approach can be mainstreamed in primary care.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Social Science & Systems in Health (SSSH)
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Physician and patient -- Computer-assisted instruction, Medical consultation , Communication in medicine, Telecommunication in medicine, Videoconferencing
Journal or Publication Title: British Journal of General Practice
Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
ISSN: 0960-1643
Official Date: September 2019
Dates:
DateEvent
September 2019Published
5 April 2019Accepted
Volume: 69
Number: 686
Page Range: e595-e604
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp19X704573
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit: 3 March 2021
Date of first compliant Open Access: 4 March 2021
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
HIPS/16/20Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directoratehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100014589

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us